Coyer Done As Broncos Defensive Coordinator

Remember a week ago when I posted that the Denver season was defined by defense, not offense? Later on during the this playoff-less post-season stupor, I'll get to dissecting the move to put Cutler in at QB. Afterall, it was a pretty big deal. But it wasn't as big of a deal as the defense that, in the final ten games of the season, could not stop an opponent from driving down the field when it mattered.

The base defense, especially in final-minute situations, was too predictable, too conservative, and well, too basic. The story of the Indy, Kansas City, San Francisco, and at least the first San Diego game was that the defensive line couldn't get near the opposing quarterback, and no one on the sidelines (or up in a box, as the case might be) was adjusting. The story was predictable all throughout the year, and yet the Broncos never blitzed, hurried or even attempted to do more than rush four at the quarterback when it mattered.

I implicated the coaching staff in all of this, and now it looks like someone agrees with me. Coach Mike Shanahan, apparently, because Larry Coyer, the Broncos' four-year defensive coach (and former linebacking coach) is gone.

It'll no doubt be interesting to hear your reactions to this - that is, the fans who prasied Shanahan for being able to win with Plummer early in the season, then begged Shanahan to give Cutler a shot, and then criticized the coach for putting Cutler in and being too conservative with his play calling. So Broncos Country, is this Shanny doing the right thing, or just dumping the blame off on someone else? For what it's worth, my opinion is that this is definitely something that needed to happen this off season.